Two upcoming road races in Scarborough will benefit local causes, including the South Portland Food Cupboard.

The 13^th Annual St. Maximilian Kolbe 5k Road Race and Kids Fun Run will be on the morning of Aug. 26. The event raises funds for the South Portland Food Cupboard. It will start at the St. Maximilian church at 150 Black Point Road in Scarborough.

The kids race is free and begins at 8:30 a.m. The 5k run/walk begins at 9 a.m. Participants that can’t make it that day can also sign up for a virtual race. The virtual race is open from the day one registers until Sept. 26. Prizes will be awarded to the first and second place male and female participants, and medals awarded to male and female age group winners.

All proceeds will go to the South Portland Food Cupboard. Last year, the race raised over $4,000 for the food cupboard which provided 160 families with food for the whole month.

The South Portland Food Cupboard began in 1997 and is currently operated by over 130 volunteers that work to help those in need. According to Laurel LaBauve, vice president of the food cupboard, the nonprofit has seen an “unprecedented increase in demand” this year. Since Jan. 1, the cupboard has seen a 60 percent increase in the number of families visiting distribution days, says LaBauve.

“As you can imagine, it’s driving our need for donations to meet an ever escalating food budget,” LaBauve said. “This is why we’re so grateful to fundraisers like the St. Maximillian Kolbe 5K race.  It really helps us meet the needs of our recipients.”

Online registration for the event costs $20 and can be accessed at https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Scarborough/SouthPortlandFoodCupboardStMax5KRoadRace

The Autumn N’ Ales 5K/10K/Half Marathon Road Race will be held on Sept. 16, starting at the American Legion Post 76 in the Scarborough Industrial Park on Manson Libby Road. The half marathon starts at 7:30 a.m. and both the 5K and the 10K begin at 8:30 a.m. A kids fun run will start at 9 a.m.

The event includes a beer garden provided by Nonesuch River Brewing for those aged 21 and older.

Registration costs $35 for the 5K, $45 for the 10K, $60 for the half marathon, and $10 for the Kids Fun Run. The proceeds will go to one of three causes the participant chooses: Scarborough Land Trust, Project GRACE, or Holy Cross School. To learn more, visit https://runsignup.com/Race/ME/Scarborough/AutumnandAles5K10KHalfMarathon

The Scarborough Land Trust is a nonprofit organization that conserves and maintains land in the town. Project GRACE (Granting Resources and Assistance through Community Effort) is also a Scarborough-based nonprofit organization. Project GRACE is a volunteer organization that aims to help those in need. Holy Cross School in South Portland is a Catholic school “focused on academic excellence, while nurturing the whole student in faith, empathy, community and social responsibility” according to their website.

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